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How to open a Dialog-Box

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Open an element's dialog-box

To build a model, we do three steps:

STEP 1:

Do a command to add an element - see Menus and Toolbars

STEP 2:

Open the element's dialog-box

STEP 3:

Edit the element's Parameters - see How to edit a Parameter in a Dialog-Box

How to open a dialog-box to edit an element

There are many different ways to open an element's dialog-box. It is helpful to know different procedures for different cases.

In all cases, we must be able to select the element. We can select the element in three different places:

•	Graphic-Area

•	Assembly-Tree

•	Selection-Window

There are four main methods.

Method 1: Use the Selection-Window

This procedure is universal - you can follow this procedure in all cases

Summary:

1.	Deselect all active commands

2.	Click (or to see all referenced elements SHIFT+CLICK the element in the graphic-area or the Assembly-Tree

The element is now in the Selection-Window

3.	Right-click the element in the Selection-Window

4.	Click Edit element in the contextual-menu.

You can also delete and rename an element when it is in the Selection-Window.

However, ... :

•	... not all elements show in the Assembly-Tree

There are elements you can click in the graphic-area, and they will show in the Selection-Window.

For example: Click the wire in the graphic-area to put it in the Selection-Window.

•	... not all elements show in the graphic-area

SHIFT+CLICK an element to show those elements that reference that element

E.g. : To put a sketch-constraint in the Selection-Window:

SHIFT+CLICK a Line to put the Line and constraints that are applied to the Line in the Selection-Window.

Click element in the Graphic-Area

1.	Click the element to put it in the Selection-Window.

We can click the element in two places:

In the Graphic-area:

a.	Click the element ONE-TIME.

The element shows in the Selection-Window.

Other elements may also show in the Selection-Window.

- OR -

In the Assembly-Tree.

a.	Click the element ONE-TIME

The element shows in the Selection-Window.

Other elements may also show in the Selection-Window.

Click element in the Assembly-Tree

'Edit-element' in contextual menu after 'right-click of an element in the Selection-Window'

2.	Right-click the element in the Selection-Window

A contextual-menu shows - see image

3.	Click Edit-element in the contextual-menu.

The element's dialog-box opens.

Method 2: Double-Click the element

Double-click does not always work because you cannot click the element or you also click a different element.

Summary:

Double-click the element in the:

•	Graphic-Area, or

•	Assembly-Tree, or

•	Selection-Window.

Double-click to open the element's dialog-box

Double-Click in the Graphic-Area

1.	Move your mouse-pointer above the element so that the element changes colour* (typically, it becomes red)

It is important that the only the element you want to edit becomes the 'highlight colour'

2.	Double-click the element in the graphic-area

If it is difficult to double-click only the element, do one or all, of the following:

•	Become precise with your mouse-pointer! Edit the Cursor Selection size - See Application-Settings

See Edit menu > Application Settings > Accessibility tab

•	Use Selection Filters to make it possible to select only the element type you want to edit.

•	Use Display Filters to hide other elements.

Double-Click element in Assembly-Tree

-OR-

Double-click in the Assembly-Tree

1.	Double-click the element in the Assembly-Tree.

Double-Click element in Selection-Window

Double-click in the Selection-Window

1.	Click the element in the graphic-area or the Assembly-Tree one time so that it shows in the Selection-Window.

When the element is in Selection-Window,

2.	Double-click the element in the Selection-Window.

Method 3: Right-Click the element

Summary:

1.	Right-click the element in the Selection-Window, the Assembly-Tree and Graphic-Area

2.	Click 'Edit-Element in the contextual-menu.

Click, then Right-Click in Assembly-Tree

In the Assembly-Tree:

1.	Click the element in the Assembly-Tree to give it focus

2.	Right-click the element that has the focus

In the contextual-menu:

3.	Click Edit Element

GA-Right-click-Editelement

In the Graphic-Area:

1.	Click the graphic-area to deselect all elements

2.	Hover + Right-click an element.

The contextual-menu shows.

In the contextual-menu:

3.	Click Edit Element

Method 4: Edit toolbar > Edit Element tool

Do:

1.	Click the Element in the Selection-Window, Assembly-Tree or Graphic-Area

2.	Click Edit toolbar > Edit Element

Click element in Graphic-Area

Click element in Assembly-Tree

In the Graphic-area, Assembly-Tree, or Selection-Window:

1.	Click the element in the Selection-Window

1.	Click the element in the graphic-area

1.	Click the element in the Assembly-Tree

Click 'Edit-Element' icon in Edit menu

2.	Click Edit toolbar > Edit Element

The element's dialog-box opens.

Special Cases:

To edit a dimension in the Part-Editor

CANNOT EDIT

Need to Know 1:

You CANNOT edit a dimension when Add Dimension (or any other command) is active.

See image - Add Dimension is active, thus you CANNOT edit the dimension.

Need to know 2:

To select the dimension, we recommend you move your pointer over the arrowhead, then click, or double-click. It is easier to click the arrowhead than the dimension-line or an extension-lines.

Need to know 3:

If you try to click the dimension number - 97.02 in the image to the left - MechDesigner will not respond.

CAN EDIT

To edit a Dimension:

You must de-select all other commands. Most typically, Add Dimension is active

1.	Click Geometry toolbar > Add Dimension again, to de-select Add Dimension

Then, edit the element in the normal way E.g.:

2.	Double-Click the arrowhead of a dimension to open the Dimension dialog-box

To edit a Gear-Pair or 2D-Cam

Double-clickGear-Pair

When you click a Gear-Pair or 2D-Cam it is possible that you click a total of four elements:

•	the Gear-Pair (or 2D-Cam)

•	a Polyline, and

•	a Profile and Extrusion element.

In this case, to edit the Gear-Pair (or 2D-Cam), we recommend you use the Selection-Window - See Here

To edit a Profile, or Auto-Profile

GA-SHIFT+CLICK PROFILE

To edit a Profile, or Auto-Profile.

1.	Use the arrow keys on your keyboard to spin the model, so that you can see the pink (default colour) Profile Element.

2.	SHIFT-CLICK the pink Profile element

The Profile and Extrusion elements are now in the Selection-Window.

2.	Right-click the Extrusion element in the Selection-Window (not the Profile element)

3.	Click Edit element in the contextual-menu.

Possible reasons you cannot edit an element

You cannot edit an element when:

•	A different dialog-box is open. Close all other dialog-boxes. (ALT+F4 if you cannot see the dialog)

•	You double-click two or more elements. You will open none or one dialog-boxes.

•	A command is active, in the Command-Manager. You must complete or cancel that command.

•	You click or double-click an element that is not possible to edit - for example, a Line when using the Part-Editor.

•	If you double-click a Profile in the Selection-Window you will not edit the Extrusion

Tutorials and Reference Help Files for MechDesigner and MotionDesigner 14.2 + © Machine, Cam, Mechanism, and Motion Design Software by PSMotion Ltd